The feeling of missing something surged in her mind. Her eyes quickly surveyed the surroundings.
Elin: "Where's Ethan?"
Dylan scratched the back of his head.
Dylan: (Now how do I explain this...)
Dylan: "Ugh..."
His hesitation only made Elin's imagination spiral further turning her face pale.
She covered her mouth from shock.
Elin: "Is he..."
The words refused to come out of her mouth.
Dylan's senses tingled, an incoming misunderstanding was spotted.
Dylan: "What? No, he's fine. We just had a fight."
Her tears welling in her eyes immediately paused, breaking into oblivion.
Elin: "Oh."
Dylan: "Ya."
A suffocating silence interrupted further conversation.
Elin quietly cleared her throat.
Elin: "Do you want to, maybe, talk about it?"
An unexpected initiation by Elin.
Dylan: "Not really."
Which was almost instantly rejected by Dylan. A little quicker and he might've broken the sound barrier.
Elin: "Ok."
The silence somehow became even worse.
Dylan rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly finding the sky incredibly fascinating.
And Elin stared at her shoes. One strand of her hair found itself wrapped around her finger.
(This is definitely a +1 to the awkward counter.)
Dylan: "...."
Elin: "...."
Several long grueling seconds passed as both refused to engage in a normal human conversation.
Then finally...
Dylan: "I'm, just worried about Ethan."
Dylan broke the silence attracting Elin's attention. His voice grew unusually soft.
Dylan: "I have done things... things I can't talk about."
A bitter smile formed as he lowered his head.
Dylan: "Failures, regrets, betrayals. I just, don't want Ethan to repeat my mistakes."
His words caught Elin off guard.
For someone who always acted dependable... Those words carried more weight than he realised.
Elin: "You really care about him."
Dylan: "Of course. I am his big brother after all."
There wasn't the slightest hesitation. It sounded more like a fact than an answer.
Elin quietly contemplated his words.
Elin: "Well, you can't keep on protecting Ethan forever. Eventually... You'll just have to, trust him."
Dylan clenched his fist.
Dylan: "You think I don't know? I have been trying to trust him this entire time."
The image of Ethan freezing up replayed in his mind.
Dylan: "But..."
His grip tightened around his bat.
Dylan: "When I saw Ethan making the same mistake I once made..."
His eyes closed shut.
Dylan: "I just couldn't, I snapped."
Elin realised the situation was more complex than she had initially thought.
Elin: "I haven't known Ethan as long as you have, but for the little time I did... I am sure he knows that all you do is for his sake."
A reassuring smile surfaced.
Dylan: "You think?"
Elin: "Of course."
Dylan had always known that deep down, but hearing it somehow made him feel better.
His expression softened and his mind calmed.
Dylan: "Thanks, this really helped."
Elin: "My pleasure."
The suffocating silence slowly transformed into a soft tranquility.
Dylan: "Elin, remember when you asked about my scars."
Elin: "Ya."
Dylan hesitated before answering.
Dylan: "I lied as well."
Elin tilted her head slightly.
Dylan: "I used to be a delinquent in high school."
.... Elin stared at him as if he spoke a different language.
Elin: "Pffft–"
She tried to stop herself.
Elin: "Haaahaaha."
But just like a new year's resolution, she failed instantly.
Elin: "Delinquent! Hahaa."
Dylan: "What's so funny?"
Elin struggled to breathe between her laughs.
Elin: "S-Sorry..."
She wiped her tears away.
Elin: "You? A delinquent! I just can't imagine that. You just seem so like.. Superman."
Dylan: (I wonder how she would react if I told her about...)
Dylan immediately shook his thoughts straight.
Dylan: (What am I even thinking?)
Elin: "Oh wait!"
Her eyes sparkled.
Elin: "Did you become a delinquent to protect the weak, like the bullied students."
Dylan let out a small chuckle.
Dylan: "You're quite imaginative. Hearing that, I almost don't know if I want to tell you the real reason."
Elin: "Don't say that, you can tell me. I promise I won't judge."
Her eyes glimmered like a sad puppy.
Dylan: "Fine if you insist."
Dylan sighed dramatically.
Dylan: "The reason I became a delinquent is because.. I love fighting."
Elin went silent from the unexpected answer.
Dylan: "I enjoy the thrill of battling an opponent with everything I have, pushing past my limits."
Elin: "...."
Dylan: "No comments?"
Elin: "I promised I won't judge."
Dylan laughed, he didn't realise when or how he had gotten so close to this complete stranger next to him, but it somehow felt comfortable.
Elin pondered on his words for a few moments, rubbing her chin.
Elin: "So... Does that mean you enjoyed fighting those goblins?"
Dylan: "What? No!... Ugh.. partially?"
Elin grinned mischievously as if taunting him.
Dylan: "I still like fighting but I wouldn't risk my life just for a fight."
Elin: "Righhtttt..."
Dylan: "In my delinquent days, if I lost, I'd wake up with a few broken bones. Maybe lose a finger if I ran into one of those psychos."
Dylan let out a defeated sigh.
Dylan: "But now.... If I lose, there won't be a next time."
Elin looked at him for a long moment.
Elin: "I have to say after hearing all this, your accident story was way more believable."
Dylan: "Well, I didn't completely lie about that."
Dylan's smile turned bitter.
Dylan: "Some 'family problems' came up and my past history as a delinquent dragged me into some, pretty shady business."
Elin: "What kind?"
Dylan: "I would rather not talk about it."
Regret filled his voice, as he looked at Elin.
Dylan: "It's nothing against you. It's just, I don't feel comfortable talking about it."
Elin felt the mood quickly crumbling and regretted asking that question.
Elin: "Oh..."
Dylan: "I didn't even tell Ethan about it."
Dylan: (Knowing Ethan, he probably figured it out by now.)
Dylan's nostalgic expression turned bitter.
Only the gentle sounds of waves remained, carrying away the weight of everything left unsaid.